DLC Durability

[ram]

How durable is DLC surface treatment? I have an action and bolt that was finished with DLC, and in less than 200 rounds the base steel is exposed in a couple of locations on the bolt.

 

[021411]

My full DLC Axiom has very minor wear on the lugs but it’s slick as shit. Non issue to me.

 

[Sheldon N]

I've worn the "black" off my DLC actions where the bolt contacts the action body. Still runs slick as snot and has only gotten better with time.

 

[ram]

Mine is also worn down on the bolt body just in front of the cocking piece, but is definitely not slick. I've tried many oils and dry, and it sticks and grabs while cycling. Is there a simple way to see if it is actually cerakote and not DLC?

 

[021411]

Mine is also worn down on the bolt body just in front of the cocking piece, but is definitely not slick. I've tried many oils and dry, and it sticks and grabs while cycling. Is there a simple way to see if it is actually cerakote and not DLC?

Who made the action and what was the finish description?

 

[padom]

I have one of the first batch of TL3's which then had PVA DLC and its held up beautifully. Some minor wear on the bolt where it makes contact but this action has thousands and thousands of rounds on it. Like Sheldon, it's only got slicker as time wears on. Its smooth as glass.

 

[ram]

Who made the action and what was the finish description?

Its a GAP Tempest and the DLC was applied aftermarket through the gunsmith. It was much smoother in the raw.

 

[Terry Cross]

I send every bolt body, firing pin, extractor and cocking piece to IonBond in N.C. Have never seen any type of flake or peeling. The stuff is hard and stays put. I have zero reason to use anything else for those parts. Their TB40 and TB41 coatings are the specific versions I specify.

No idea why others are having flake problems but it sounds like a surface prep issue or it is not the real deal.

./

 

[Sheldon N]

DLC wear on the raceways of my Bighorn action. This is what it looks like after close to 10k live rounds and probably 50k+ dry fire cycles of the bolt.

 

[Zermatt Arms]

DLC wear on the raceways of my Bighorn action. This is what it looks like after close to 10k live rounds and probably 50k+ dry fire cycles of the bolt.

Willing to bet that's one of the smoothest actions in the wild, too.

 

[ram]

Is it difficult to remove the DLC entirely from the action and bolt? The way it is now, its worse than any factory Remington Ive had in smoothness of bolt manipulation.

 

[021411]

Is it difficult to remove the DLC entirely from the action and bolt? The way it is now, its worse than any factory Remington Ive had in smoothness of bolt manipulation.

I remember reading once it might have to take a chemical bath or have to be media blasted off. I'm no expert..

 

[Zermatt Arms]

Is it difficult to remove the DLC entirely from the action and bolt? The way it is now, its worse than any factory Remington Ive had in smoothness of bolt manipulation.

We just bead blast the coating off if we need to for some reason. The facility we use to coat does surface prep ahead of applying any coating as it is to control the batch and ensure a quality application every time.

 

[BLKWLFK9]

Is it difficult to remove the DLC entirely from the action and bolt? The way it is now, its worse than any factory Remington Ive had in smoothness of bolt manipulation.

you might have some heavy buildup in spots. Also, buy some hornady HD extreme spray. Makes anything cycle 300% better.

 

[ram]

How is the DLC applied? I thought it was a vapor disposition process with a charged surface that would drawing the material evenly across the surface. However, my action does not have any coating at all inside the raceway behind the ejection port. This would seem as though is was sprayed on like a paint.

 

[Terry Cross]

How is the DLC applied? I thought it was a vapor disposition process with a charged surface that would drawing the material evenly across the surface. However, my action does not have any coating at all inside the raceway behind the ejection port. This would seem as though is was sprayed on like a paint.

It is a VDP process. The interior of some voids like smaller holes may not get circulation equal to exterior surfaces. The entire raceway of the receiver should have certainly been covered though.

 

[Praeger]

How is the DLC applied? I thought it was a vapor disposition process with a charged surface that would drawing the material evenly across the surface. However, my action does not have any coating at all inside the raceway behind the ejection port. This would seem as though is was sprayed on like a paint.

Who did the DLC application?

 

[jd5521]

DLC coating like any other is only as good as the company the company that applies it. There are a lot out there that can do it but not as good as some others.

 

[ram]

Who did the DLC application?

Not sure who did the DLC, but it was done though PVA when installed the barrel.

 

[Dthomas3523]

Not sure who did the DLC, but it was done though PVA when installed the barrel.

I’d be taking it up with PVA. Shouldn’t be binding like that.

 

[Praeger]

Not sure who did the DLC, but it was done though PVA when installed the barrel.

I’d be taking it up with PVA. Shouldn’t be binding like that.

Definitely go back to PVA and follow up. Sounds like an improper application of DLC.

 

[Switchbarrel]

Is there a noticeable difference when having just the bolt coated vs. action & bolt (stainless action).
Trying to make the bolt throw on my Nesika a bit smoother. Thanks.

-Rick